VALDOSTA — About 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, with that number expected to triple by 2050. Georgia has about 195,000 people with Alzheimer’s disease.

With family and friends caring for 80 percent of Alzheimer patients, a time-out is needed for the caregiver — whether to go to the grocery store, clean their house or spend time with their grandchildren.

And ACTO (Alzheimer’s Caregiver Time-Out) of Valdosta Inc. provides that service at no charge from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Park Avenue United Methodist Church.

The group is not only for those with Alzheimer’s, but also those with memory impairments and the frail elderly, according to Ann Walker-Smith, president of the ACTO board. Other clients could be, for example, a stroke victim who can’t speak or a person with Down Syndrome, she said.

“(ACTO) gives me some personal time so I can better care for Dad when he is with me,” said Cliff Warrick Jr. about his dad.

“When he leaves ACTO, he is more attentive and alert.”

Catherine Phillips, daughter of client Grace Conaway, was likewise complimentary of the service provided by ACTO.

“I am still able to work and to know that she is in a program I feel comfortable leaving her with. Mom enjoys the fellowship of her friends and the activities.”  

ACTO offers more than just sitting loved ones: There’s music, exercise, crafts, games, reminiscence therapy and seasonal special events.

“What we try to do ... is to stimulate their minds to keep their memory with them as long as they can and to let them be with others mostly their age,” Walker-Smith said.

“When we deal with our clients, we give them the respect of an adult, but we closely monitor them as if they were young children.”

The clients put together puzzles and love to play Bingo.

“Most can remember their numbers and letters,” she said.

Volunteer Peggy Bennett comes often to play old Gospel hymns, and The Millhous Gospel Quartet is scheduled to perform for them on Sept. 18.

“They can remember music and words to a song when they can’t remember what happened five minutes ago,” Walker-Smith said.

“The first time I ever saw one of the clients smile was when she heard a song that she and her husband used to dance to.”

Exercise includes chair aerobics and the “noodle” game.

“We give them a swimming noodle and beach ball and get in a circle, and they hit it,” she said. “It keeps their eye-hand coordination good.”

A calendar is given to the clients with the activities that are scheduled for them, including celebrating their birthdays.

“I cook for them once a month. This month we had two brunches — with Belgium waffles (prepared by volunteer Charles Roberts), sausage, bacon, fresh fruit and juices and grits. They love them some grits,” Walker-Smith said, smiling.

Tommy and Skipper, the therapy dogs of Kathy Gattis, come to visit the clients once a month. They entertain the group with their “stop, drop and roll” and let the clients pet them in exchange for food.

The ACTO program was begun for Lowndes and neighboring counties in 1991. Sandy Keeler, former director for three years, built the program from three clients to the present 27, although the most present on a single day is usually around 14, Walker-Smith said.

“We are in the process of getting a new program director (to replace Keeler who moved to another state). Our activity director is Nancy Creel.”

The ACTO program is partially funded by United Way, with other funds coming from individuals and organizational donations and annual fund-raising events.

“We’re doing a cookbook with 300 recipes which is coming out the first weekend in October,” she said. Valdosta Daily Times Taste-off ribbon winners Lyndal Webb, Claire Spriggs-Marrs, Brenda Woodall and Edith Shepherd are among the contributors of the recipes. All of the funds will go to ACTO of Valdosta, Walker-Smith said.

Volunteers are a big help, she said, with Dorothy Ard selling ads for the cookbook and Mary Perry entering all 300 recipes. More volunteers are needed.

“If someone could play a guitar, it would be wonderful,” Walker-Smith said.

“It may be something as simple as talking to them.”

An old piano “in good shape” is needed for the group, she said. Other items requested include placemats, CDs of music like the Gaithers, Elvis’ Gospel songs (“because they remember that”), any other Southern Gospel group (“They like the old stuff”), printer paper, and coffee (both regular and decaf), sugar, Coffee Mate, bingo snacks such as honey buns and peanut butter crackers, bottles of water, and heat-and-eat lunches.

“We can’t praise Park Avenue enough for providing our facility for free,” she said. “They also bring fresh tea and cups and plates.”

Currently, there are nine members on the ACTO board, including Walker-Smith, Vice President Kaysie Hart and Secretary Machelle Manning.

“We have a wonderful board. We would love to see our board grow because the more we have, the more we’ll be able to do,” Walker-Smith said.

“(The ACTO clients) have phenomenal stories to tell you of their childhood playing hopscotch, marbles ... the stories they share that take them back in time.

“You won’t get rich working with Alzheimer’s clients, you’ll get enriched. When you get up in the morning, you’re very thankful that you can remember, know your loved ones and enjoy life.”